Fechner fell while he and about two dozen other firefighters struggled to put out a 12:34 a.m. blaze that engulfed a garage and two cars parked inside at 3272 Kempton Drive, Shell said.

The fire caused about $42,000 damage and is being investigated as a possible arson, Shell said. Fire officials said they did not believe the incident was linked to a recent rash of carport arsons in Los Angeles County.